Core Course Week: Uppsala
Before really diving into this post I really should apologize for not posting for a while. Two weeks ago was Core Course week, and so I had the week off from all of my classes except from my core course. When I came back last week and into this week, classes really came back strong with assignments and I was, well, not prepared to say the very least.
So here was my week, two weeks ago:
From the very beginning, everyone at DIS was saying that core course week comes at the perfect time for students and to be completely honest I didnât believe them. I didnât think that I would feel any different from core course week. And I really didnât feel any different until actually going to Uppsala with my core course and getting way for a few days. After being in a new place, even just an hour outside of Stockholm I felt rejuvenated and ready to continue all my studies (well, kinda). But really my core course week was pretty amazing and it just confirmed that I chose the right core course for me. But let me start from the beginning so you can know why I enjoyed last week so much.
During core course week, you donât have any other class except your core course (makes sense from the name right), so I met with only my Gender, Equality, and Sexuality in Scandinavia course all week. For Monday and Tuesday we were in Stockholm, Wednesday we had off, and then on Thursday we left to go to Uppsala for a few days. Every day (except for Wednesday) we had workshops, sessions, and activities relating to our course in different yet very important ways.
The week kicked off on Monday with watching tv shows and films all day. Rough day, I know. But in all actuality, this day was very informative as it gave us a concrete examples of queer lives in Scandinavia as all that we watched depicted different challenges and issues that queer people have faced throughout history. What I really took away from this day was the fact of using a different form of teaching for us to learn rather than assigning reading. At least for me, I have a hard time really grasping the entire picture when I just read an article so watching movies that depicted queer relationships, issues such as coming out, acceptance or AIDS, as well as a more real depiction of peopleâs lives helped me understand the content of what I have been reading in class.
On Tuesday we met with the Womanâs Network for fika to talk about how the organization does not only help women in Stockholm but also youth and newly arrived people. It was interesting to hear just all the different aspects and activities that the organization focuses on to help people. In the afternoon we participated in a body movement workshop and this was really interesting to say the least. During the workshop we were supposed to connect to our bodies and feel more in touch with ourselves and it was really an experience to be had.
Wednesday was then a complete free day for me as I had absolutely no plans besides studying all day in preparation for the upcoming week when I would have all my classes again. And while I did do a lot of reading, it was a very relaxing day to have in the middle of the week.
Thursday afternoon we then left for Uppsala where we met with a lot of different organizations. Right when we arrived in Uppsala we attended a workshop with RFSU, an organization dedicated to promoting positive sex and relationships through sex education. When I found out about we were doing this workshop I didnât entirely know what to think or expect but I didnât think that at 20 I would attend a sex education workshop or that I would enjoy it as much as I did. What this organization did was teach about sex in such a way that no one felt uncomfortable but rather well-informed and left the room knowing that we had learned something. For the rest of the day we checked into our hostel and then explored Uppsala (which I will talk more about in a later post) before having a group dinner.
Friday was probably our most scheduled day as we first met with an antidiscrimination organization in the morning to learn about what the organization in general does but also to learn more about the different types of discrimination that exist in Sweden and the laws to combat it. We then went to lunch as a group, had a bit of free time and then went on a guided tour of the University Museum.
The important thing about Friday that I have not mentioned is that it was the beginning of Pride in Uppsala but not just any Pride but Welcome Out, a Pride for those who have a more difficult time with coming out such as newly arrived people, international students, and any migrants. Because it was Welcome Out weekend it meant that we also participated in different activities and sessions being held over the weekend, starting with Friday. So Friday night we watched a documentary about how Welcome Out got started and then attended a session with RFSL, an LGBTQ+ organization that supports and fights for rights.
Saturday was the shortest day of the week with us only having one activity, a sex worker session with RFSL and then lunch before hopping on a bus and going back to Stockholm. And although it was one of the shorter days, it was also one of the more interesting with learning about sex workers and their rights, or in a way lack thereof, and to actually hear from some.
Overall, core course was draining but it also a really good experience as we met with different organizations that really made me think and that I enjoyed going to. Also, it was really nice to get out of Stockholm and see another part of Sweden that I donât think I would have gone to if it wasnât for Core Course week. But I think it is also important to know that while I had a good experience, that not everyone does and that it could go either way, but you should just go in with an open mind and take everything in as they come.